Tá an CLG in Ard Mhacha ag obair go dícheallach leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun tosaigh. Bronnadh Gradam Náisiúnta na Gaeilge orthu ar na mallaibh as na hiarrachtaí le teagasc na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn sna bunscoileanna bearla, as cluiche peile a eagrú do ghaeilgeoirí amháin, as dianchúrsaí míosúla a reachtáil, as foilseachán iontach ar na bailte fearainn a dhéanamh agus as scoláireachtaí a bhronnadh ar dhaoine óga atá ag trial chun na Gaeltachta. Tá staid na Gaeilge níos follaine in Ard Mhacha anois ná mar a bhí ó d’eag na cainteoirí dúchais deireannacha sa chontae. Is Oifigeach Gaeilge é Seán Ó Maoilsté le CAIRDE Teo agus is ball de Choiste Cultúir CLG Ard Mhacha agus labhair sé le triúr de na réalta óga a bheas ag imirt d’Ard Mhacha in eadán an Chabháin ar an Domhnach beag seo i gCluiche Ceannais Mionúr Uladh sa pheil.
The GAA in Armagh have been working hard to promote the Irish language. They were recently awarded Gradam Náisiúnta na Gaeilge for their efforts in promoting the teaching of Irish in primary schools, organising an football game for Gaeilgeoirí, holding monthly intensive courses in the Athletic Grounds, producing a fantastic publication on townland names and awarding scholarships to students to attend the Gaeltacht. The Irish language hasn’t been in as healthy a state in the Orchard County since the last native speakers died a number of decades ago. Seán Ó Maoilsté, an Irish language officer with CAIRDE Teo and member of the Armagh GAA Culture Committee spoke with three of the stars on the Armagh minor football team as they prepare to do battle with Cavan in the Ulster Final.
Cén uair ar thosaigh tú ag foghlaim Gaeilge?
When did you begin learning Irish?
Conor O’ Neill: Tá mo mháthair iontach tógtha faoin Ghaeilge, agus mar sin, bhí cúpla focal agam nuair a bhí mé ar an bhunscoil. Dá bharr sin, bhí suim mhór agam sa Ghaeilge nuair a bhí mé ar an mheánscoil. Bhí Roinn na Gaeilge ar fheabhas ag Scoil na Mainistreach san Iúr, agus spreag sin mo shuim sa teanga. Tá sé de rún agam coinneáil leis an Ghaeilge ar an ollscoil agus san am atá le teacht.
My mother has an interest in Irish and she taught me a few words when I was at primary school. Therefore, my interest in Irish grew at secondary school. The Irish Department in the Abbey were fantastic and that encouraged me to learn more about my national language. I intend to keep using my Irish at university and in the future.
Cad chuige a bhfuil spéis agat sa teanga?
Why do you have an interest in Irish?
Conor McNally: Thosaigh mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge nuair a bhí mé sa chéad bhliain ag Coláiste Phádraig. Bhí spéis agam sa teanga riamh. Is tábhachtach liom bheith ábalta teanga dhúchais na hÉireann a labhairt.
I started to learn Irish in 1st year of St Pats. I have always had an interest in the language, being able to communicate in our native language and have the ability to speak in a different language always interested me.
Dónal: Bhí suim mhór agam i gcónaí sa teanga ach níor thosaigh mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge go dtí gur tháinig mé chuig an mheánscoil ach an oiread. Sílim go bhfuil sé ríthábhachtach teanga na tíre bheith agat mar Éireannach nó tá sé mar chuid de stair agus d’oidhreacht na hÉireann í.
I have always been interested in the Irish but I never began learning Irish until I came to secondary school. I believe that it is very important that Irish people learn the country’s language as it is part of the history and heritage of Ireland.
An raibh tú ag an Ghaeltacht riamh?
Did you ever attend the Gaeltacht?
Dónal: Bhí mé ag an Ghaeltacht chóir a bheith achan bhliain ó thosaigh mé sa chéad bhliain ar an mheánscoil. Bhain mé an-sult as an am atá caite agam ann agus d’fhoghlaim mé cuid mhór faoin teanga agus faoin chultúr. Is í an Ghaeltacht an nasc atá againn leis an teanga bheo.
I have spent time in the Gaeltacht almost every year from I started secondary school. I always enjoyed going up to the Gaeltacht and I learned a lot about our language and our culture. The Gaeltacht is the link to the living language and everyone interested in Irish should consider going.
Conor O’ Neill: Bhí mé ar Choláiste Mhachaire Rabhartaigh i dTír Chonaill ceithre huaire. Chuir an t-eispéireas sin snas ar mo chuid Gaeilge féin, agus chuir sé leis an tsuim a bhí agam sa teanga agus sa chultúr. Sílim go bhfuil sé tábhactach go dtéann daoine óga chun na Gaeltachta mar go gcuireann sé leis an mhórtas a bhíonn acu dá gcultúr.
I was at Coláiste Mhachaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal four times. The experience helped bring on my Irish and encouraged me to become involved in the promotion of the language and culture. I think that it is important that young people go to the Gaeltacht as it helps them feel proud about their own culture.
Ar chóir an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa CLG? Cad chuige?
Should the GAA promote the Irish language?
Conor McNally: Níl aon amhras ann ach gur chóir. Má dhéanann an CLG níos mó leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, beidh níos mó daoine ar an eolas faoi na deiseanna atá ag daoine an teanga a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid. Tá áit thábhachtach ag an Ghaeilge i stair agus i dtraidisiún an CLG agus tá sé de dhualgas ar an CLG túsáite a thabhairt don Ghaeilge san eagraíocht leis an teanga a chur chun tosaigh do dhaoine de gach aois.
Without doubt it should be promoted. By promoting Irish through GAA it will make people more aware of the opportunities that people have to use and learn the language. Irish is prominent throughout the history of the GAA and is steeped in tradition, so the GAA should make it their duty to make Irish a huge part of their organization to help promote it to people young and old.
Conor O’ Neill: Sílim go gcaithfidh muid níos mó Gaeilge a thabhairt isteach chuig cúrsaí spóirt sa tír seo, mar caithfidh muid ár dteanga a choinneáil beo, agus is bealach iontach furasta é leis an Ghaeilge a shlánú. Dá mbeadh níos mó Gaeilgeoirí sa CLG, le Gaeilge ar ardchaighdeán, bheadh níos mó daoine óga ag leanúint coiscéimeanna na réalta móra sin a bhíonn le feiceáil ar an teilifís.
I think that we need to build on the links between the Irish language and sport as we have to ensure that our language survives. If there were more prominent Irish speakers in the GAA, more and more young people would follow in the footsteps of the role models that they watch on TV.
Dónal: Bunaíodh an CLG le cultúr na hÉireann a chosaint agus a chothú. Agus ar ndóigh is cuid an-tábhachtach den chultúr í an Ghaeilge agus mar sin de, creidim gur chóir don CLG níos mó a dhéanamh lenár dteanga náisiúnta a chur chun cinn. Ba chóir go raibh níos mó Gaeilge le feiceáil i gclubanna CLG, ar shuíomhanna CLG agus sna meáin agus cuirfidh níos mó daoine spéis sa Ghaeilge.
The GAA was founded to protect and promote the culture of Ireland. The Irish language is of course an integral part of our culture, so I believe that the GAA should be more proactive in promoting our national language. Irish should be made much more visible in GAA clubs and on GAA websites and in the media and more people will become interested in the language.
Maidir le foireann mionúr Ard Mhacha, cad é atá speisialta faoin fhoireann seo?
What is it about this Armagh minor team that makes it so special?
Conor O’ Neill: Tá a lán imreoirí speisialta ar an fhoireann seo ach níl ansin ach taobh amháin den scéal. Go dtí seo, d’obair muid go dian dícheallach in achan chluiche agus achan seisiún cleachtaithe, agus sin an fáth go bhfuil muid ag an phointe seo, i mo bharúil.
There are a lot of talented players on this team, but that is only one side of it. We have worked very hard in every game and in every training session until now. In my opinion, it is that work ethic that has brought us to an Ulster final.
Cad é mar a mhothaigh tú faoin teacht aniar nuair a bhain sibh i gcoinne an Dúin sa chraobh?
How did you feel after the amazing comeback against Down in the first round?
Dónal: Bhí mé ar mhuin na muice nuair a séideadh an fheadóg dheiridh agus bhí muid i ndiaidh an cluiche dochreidte sin a bhaint. Mhothaigh mé amhail is gur brionglóid a bhí ann agus bhí áthas an domhain orm bheith páirteach sa chluiche sin.
I was absolutely delighted when the final whistle sounded to signal an incredible comeback and an Armagh win. It felt as if it was a dream and I was delighted and proud to play a part in that game.
Conor, cad é mar a mhothaigh tú le cúpla cúilín a fháil sa chluiche i gcoinne Fhear Mánach?
You contributed a couple of scores in the Fermanagh game. How did it feel to get those scores in Clones?
Conor McNally: Bíonn sé maith scór a fháil in aon chluiche craoibhe agus cuidiú leis an fhoireann an bua a fháil agus sin go díreach mar a mhothaigh mé ar an lá sin. Ach bhí sé go hiontach na scóir sin a fháil i gCluain Eois nó is ann a bhíonn na cluichí peile is tábhachtaí in Uladh agus bíonn achan fhoireann ag iarraidh imirt ar an pháirc speisialta sin.
Its great to score in any championship game and give a helping hand to your team to get the win on the day and that’s what we done. But I suppose it is extra special to score in Clones because that’s where you want to be playing your football and where the main games in Ulster football are played.
Cad é mar a mhothaíonn tú anois agus sibh ag dul isteach i gCluiche Ceannais Uladh?
How do you feel about the upcoming Ulster final?
Conor O’ Neill: Caithfidh muid caitheamh leis an chluiche seo ar an dóigh céanna a chaitheann muid le gach cluiche eile, agus is é sin, “obair go dtí an fheadóg dheiridh’’ ach ar ndóigh bainfidh muid sult as an ócáid mhór seo.
We have to treat this game like we treat every other game and that is to work hard until the final whistle, but we will of course enjoy the occasion.
Conor McNally: Tá muid ag súil go mór leis an chluiche. Bhí muid ag iarraidh an cluiche seo a bhaint amach ó thus na bliana. Tá a fhios againn nach mbeidh sé furasta i gcoinne an Chabháin agus beidh orainn imirt níos fearr ná riamh má tá muid chun an chraobh a bhaint.
I am looking forward to it, it’s where you want to be come this time of year, but we know that it will be no easy task against Cavan and we will need to be on top of our game if we want to come out with a win.
Dónal: Bhí dóchas agam riamh go mbainfeadh muid an cluiche ceannais amach agus tá mé an-sásta an deis seo a fháil. Ar ndóigh tá mé rud beag neirbhíseach faoin chluiche ach tá muid measartha muiníneach ag an am céanna. Tá muinín agam as an fhoireann seo agus tá a fhios againn gur féidir linn é a dhéanamh!
I had always hoped that we would reach an Ulster final and I am delighted that we now have the opportunity to play in one. I feel slightly nervous about the game but we are fairly confident of a good performance. I have faith in this team and I think we are capable of getting the right result!
